Archer Receives FAA Certification for Commercial Airline

Archer Receives FAA Certification for Commercial Airline

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Archer Aviation, a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has achieved a major milestone by receiving its Part 135 Air Carrier & Operator Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This allows Archer Aviation to begin operating aircraft commercially as it works towards the launch of its Midnight eVTOL air taxi.

 

Archer's FAA Certifications

In addition to the Part 135 certificate, Archer received its Part 145 certificate from the FAA, authorizing the company to perform specialized aircraft repair services. With both the Part 135 and Part 145 certificates in hand, Archer has now secured the two key operational certifications required by the FAA to commence air taxi operations once its Midnight eVTOL aircraft receives Type Certification.

  • The FAA recently issued the final airworthiness criteria for the Midnight aircraft in May 2024.
  • Archer is still pursuing Type Certification for Midnight while establishing critical infrastructure like repair facilities, charging stations, and vertiports.

Midnight eVTOL Certification Challenges

Archer faces several challenges in obtaining Type Certification for its Midnight eVTOL aircraft, including navigating novel regulatory frameworks, proving the airworthiness of new technologies, and meeting aggressive timelines. The FAA has had to develop unique certification criteria for eVTOLs, which requires close collaboration with Archer to define them. Aspects like electric propulsion, battery safety, and transitional flight modes necessitate extensive analysis and testing to satisfy stringent standards. Supply chain disruptions and other factors have forced some eVTOL developers to delay certification targets, putting pressure on Archer to closely manage its program and complete the rigorous, multi-stage certification process on schedule to achieve its ambitious goal of beginning commercial operations in 2025. Despite steady progress in areas like the FAA issuing final airworthiness criteria for Midnight, much work remains to demonstrate the aircraft's safety and capabilities to regulators.

Stakeholder Reactions

  • Adam Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Archer, expressed honor in receiving the Part 135 certificate, reflecting the team's dedication to safety and operational excellence as they work to establish one of the world's first electric air taxi services.
  • United Airlines CFO Mike Leskinen congratulated Archer on the milestone, looking forward to shaping the future of air transportation together and delivering unparalleled flying experiences to United passengers.
  • Archer Air COO Tom Anderson thanked the FAA for their ongoing collaboration. He congratulated the Archer Air team on the achievement, expressing excitement about commencing operations on the innovative new air taxi service soon.

Archer's Urban Air Mobility Vision

Archer aims to revolutionize urban transportation by replacing 60-90 minute car commutes with an estimated 10-20 minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, quiet, and cost-competitive with ground transportation. The company's flagship Midnight eVTOL, a piloted four-passenger aircraft, is designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between trips. By establishing one of the world's first electric air taxi services, Archer seeks to provide communities across the U.S. with an eco-friendly, low-noise alternative to traffic congestion, ultimately transforming how people move within cities and spend their time.